Accelerator setting control



March 2, 1954` J. T. RElLLY ACCELERATOR SETTING CONTROL 2 Sheds-Sheet 1Filed April 9, 1951 INVENToR. ZJE/LLY, Bmw/1;

rraeA/EY- March 2, 1954 J. T. REILLY ACCELERATOR SETTING CONTROL 2Sheets-Shea?l 2 Filed April 9, 1951 Patented Mar. 2, `1954 UNITED STATESPATENT GFFICE 2,670,822 ACCELERATOR SETTING CONTROL James T. Reilly,Laguna Beach, Calif.

Application April 9, 1951, Serial No. 219,978 17 claims. (01.192-3) Thisinvention relates to automobile accelerator controls and particularlytoimproved foot controlled means for releasably maintaining an acceleratorin a set position when it is desired to travel at a constant speed for arelatively extended period. 'j

Though various foot controlled raccelerator setting devices haveheretofore been proposed, none has proven suiciently effective, easilycontrollable and structurally simple to warrant its use on any widescale. For one thing, all such devices with which I am acquainted haverequired some relatively inconvenient actuating movement of the foot toset orf. release the control, with theresult that the intendedadvantages in facilitating driving are` virtually oilset by thisinconvenience, and with thefurther result of increasing the hazards ofdriving by somewhat complicating the driving procedure. For instance,certain prior accelerator controls have required for setting orrelease'` a lateral movement of the right foot against a; control memberpositioned at the side of the accelerator pedal. Another device withwhich Lam acquainted is released by forward movement of the foot againstan upstanding toe piece at' the forward end of the accelerator pedal.Aswill be appreciated, the necessity for such lateral or forward footmovements must necessarily render the setting and release of thecontrolfrather inconvenient and thus decrease materially its practicalutility.

An important object of the present invention is to provide anacceleratorV control adapted-to be set and released with considerablygreater facility than the various devices heretofore proposed. For thispurpose, devices embodying the invention are constructed for control bythe exertion of downward foot pressure on a depressable control memberpositioned near the accelerator pedal. Such downward foot pressure mayof course be exerted with much greater facility and under more effectivecontrol than can the lateral or forward forces required in the devicesdiscussed above.

y To further simplify control of the device, I prefer to mount thecontrol member for automatic actuation upon movement of a foot onto oroff of the accelerator pedal. Thus as an operator places his foot on thepedal, the member may be automatically depressed to render the controldevice inactive and permit normal operation of the accelerator. When thefoot is later removed, the control member may be automatically actuatedto set the control 'device for retaining .the accelerator in thelastposition'to which it was moved.

A more particular object of the invention is to' provide an acceleratorcontrol device of the above character especially adapted to be easilyapplicable as an accessory to any modern automobile. To attain thisresult, as well as to increase the effectiveness of the device inoperation, the preferred form of the invention comprises a speciallyformed accelerator pedal to be substituted for the conventional pedaland itself carrying the relatively depressable control member. Theinvention contemplates broadly that the depressable member may bemovably mounted to the pedal in any convenient manner and at anyconvenient location. However, for most effective, reliable, and easilycontrolled operation, I prefer to form the member as a relativelydepressable cover plate hinged to the accelerator pedal and extendingalong its upper side.

In addition to the control member, the accelerator pedal preferably alsocarries mechanism coacting with a member attached to the floor board ofthe automobile to releasably retain the pedal in its set positions. Thismember attached to the lioor board may be a flexible connector adaptedto be Wound about a reel carried by the pedal and releasably retainablein any of various positions for maintaining the setting of theaccelerator. Particularly contemplated is a hollow elongated acceleratorpedal adapted to contain the reel and its control mechanism.

As will be appreciated, there might be some danger involved in the useof a device of the present character if the device werev adapted to bereleased only by the indicated foot pressure at the acceleratorlocation. For instance, if the accelerator were set in a given conditionand it then became necessary to suddenly stop, the attempt of theoperator to rst engage the control member at the accelerator locationfor releasing the accelerator and to then apply the brakes might verywell cause an accident. To avoid this danger, an additional object ofthe invention is to provide, in combination with the above improvedaccelerator, control mechanism for automatically releasing theaccelerator from its set position upon application of the brakes. l'forthis purpose, I may employ a simple flexible con-A nector extendingbetween the brake and accelerv ator and acting to release theaccelerator as the brake pedal is depressed.

It is contemplated that the accelerator posi-` tioning device may becontrolled either mechanically or electrically. When electricallycontrolled, the apparatus may include a solenoid carried within theaccelerator pedal and adapted for energization either by closing of abrake actuated switch or a control member actuated switch.

The above and other features and objects of the present invention willbe better understood from the following detailed description of thetypical embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a general showing of an automobile accelerator installation`embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section through the pedal of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the pedal taken on line 3-3 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view oi the rear poition of the pedal showingespecially the manner in which the movable heel plate portion the pedalmay be locked in inactive condition;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of an electrically controlled second form ofaccelerator pedal embodying the invention, the major portion of thepedal cover being broken away to reveal the inner mechanism; 6 is avertical section through this second ici'rbf accelerator pedal, taken onune s-s of Fi'. 5;

Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse sections through the; pedal 'taken on lines1-1 and 3S of Fig. 5; Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary transfvissection taken in the plane or 7 and showing the pawl holding latch inits holding cndftifn; and

Fig. r1l) is a diagram of the electric control Ifor this 'second form ofthe invention.

The lgeneral showing of Fig. l includes an automobile floor board Il), aconventional brake pedal II, 'and an accelerator pedal i2 speciallyfri'edfin accordance with the present invention. Accelerator pedal l2 isin certain conditions of the apparatus retained 4against upward movementby 'a 'flexible connector i3, typically a4 chain as shown, connected 'atits lower "end to the floor 'board 'and acted upon by mechanism IBwithin the acceleratbr pedal (see Figs. 2 and 3). Mechanism Ill isrelas'able t permit upward movement of the accelerator pedal by either"depression a relatively movable heel 'plate I5 on the accelerator ordownward brake applying vactuawtioli of the Vbrake pedal II. Foreiecting such release 'of mechanism I4 "upon 'application f "tilebik'es,pedal is b'perativeiyeonngeeted t() mechanism Ylil by a, Second"flexible chain it. The brake itself :may c''l'pi'se typically the usualtread vvI1 carried by an ain 'I8 Viivcita'lly mounted at I9 andyieldigly "urged to the relasedFig. 1 conditionby 'a 'spring 20.

The elongated hollow accelerator pedal I 2 has a bottom Wall 2l and aperipheral upwardly extending sidewall 22. The uppersd'e of the pedal islosedat its frtvar'd endbytread plate 2 3 secured to inwardly extendingflanges 24 'at the upper edges of side Walls 22 by screws "25. Atthe'rear of tread plate 23, the upper side of the pedal is closed Vbythe movable heel plate 'I5 whose construction and 'operation will bebrought out more in detail at a later point.

The accelerator pedal is adapted to be conventionally mounted forvertical swinging lmovement about its rear portion by the usual pair-*ofmounting elements or lugs 4I threaded into the floor board at theirlower ends '42 and having ball-shaped pedal engaging heads 43 at theirupper ends. For attachment to these mounting elements, pedal I2 :carriesnear its rear vend a mounting member 44 formed of rubber or similarresilient materia1 and containing spherical recesses 45 in itsunderside within which heads 4 43 of the mounting elements 4I arereceived. The resilient member 44 may be retained at its underside by ametallic plate 46, as shown. Near its forward end, the bottom wall 2| ofpedal I2 carries a second resilient member 41 suitably retained to thepedal, as by screws 48, and containing a spherical socket or recess 49within which the upper ball-shaped head 50 of the usual throttle controlrod 5I is receive@ The lower end" of cllain,v I3; is connected to thefloor board in any suitable manner as by a screw 2B extending throughand tightened against a chain carried fastening element 21. From itspoint of connection to the floor board, the chain extends upwardlythrough opening 28 in the underside of the accelerator pedal, aboutpulley 2.5i rotatably mounted to the pedal by shaft 3l),v andpast roller3I at the inside of the pedal for connection at its other end 32 towinding reel 33. This reel is rotatably carried about a shaft 34projecting upwardly from the bottom wall ZI of the accelerator pedal,and is retained to the shaft by an upper pasher 35 and a re. tainingscrew 36. Typically, the reel is illus. trated as comprising a mainhollow portion '31 closed at its upper side by a disk 38 retained -tothe main section 31 by screws 39 and vhaving about its periphery aseries of rather closely spaced ratchet teeth MI. At its inside, thereel contains a spring 52 connected at its opposite ends to the reelbody and shaft v341 to normally urge the reel in a chain windingdirection.

For retaining the reel vagainst unwinding rotation in certain conditionsof -the apparatus, to

thus retain the accelerator 'pedal yagainst up-` ward engine slowingmovement, I provide 'a paw-1 53 pivotally mounted at 54 and having ianend 55 curving into engagement with ratchet teeth 40 on the reel.' Thispawl is connected at 56, toward its opposite end, tothe brake con,trolled chain I6, which extends rearwardly within the pedal, and thenabout pulley .51 and out through opening 158 in the bottom of Athepedal. Alfter passing about pulley 51, cha-in IB is directed through aguide tube 59 fastened on the floor board to extend "first forwardlybeneath the accelerator pedal and then laterally to a 'location adjacentthe brake pedal, from which location the chain extends'upwardl'y forconnection tothe underside of the brake pedal tread I1. As will beappreciated, spring 20 normally retains vthe brake pedal inits'r'eleased Fig. 1 condition, to thus exert a force on chain i6retaining 'pawl 53 in its active Fig. 2 condition for preventingunwinding rotation of the reel. When depression of the `brake pedalrelieves the force exerted on pawl 53 Vby chain I6, the pawl isactuat'ed to its released condition by coil -spring 6I bearing at oneend against the pawl andat its opposite end against an angle bracket '62mounted to theb'ody "of the pedal. Bracket vf62 may carry an elongatedscrew"-63 extending along theinside-of spring 6I for retaining it inproper position.

Heel plate I5 includes an upper tread portion 64 which may have aperipheral skirt 65 extending downwardly at the rear and sides of thepedal. At its forward end,'heel"plate` I5 is vhinged 'to the body of,the accelerator pedalja's 'by a 'pair of 'screws '66 extendingthrough't'he skirt'lS 'at 'opposite sides 'of the pedal and 'connectinginto the pedal side walls. The 4heel 'plate is "normally urgedjupwardlyto its Fig. i3 .condition by coil spring'61, which may bear at itslwer'end against the rear mounting member Y"44 of the pedal.

rScrew 68 projects upwardly within springv 6,'Ito maintain the spring inits proper upwardly projecting condition. Depression of hee1 plate I5 istransmitted to pawl 53, to eifect its retraction, by an elongated slidemember 69 extending along one side wall of the pedal. This slide memberis retained against the pedal Wall, and guided for forward and rearwardsliding movement, by a pair of guide pins |0. The forward end of slidemember 69 curves inwardly for engagement at 7| with pawl 53, so thatforward movement of the slide eects retracting movement of the pawl. Atits rear end, slide member 69 projects rearwardly from the pedal and hasan angular Wedge face 'I2 engageable by a roller 'I3 carried by heelplate I5, to effect forward pawl actuating movement of the slide inresponse to depression of the heel plate. In order that the heel platemay on occassion be retained in its depressed condition for permittingnormal operation of the accelerator, I provide at one side of the pedala lock pin 'I4 extending through an elongated slot 'l5 in the pedal sidewall 22. This pin is shiftable longitudinally within slot 'I5 into andout of a notch I6 in the heel plate skirt. As will be appreciated, whenthe heel plate is depressed, and pin 14 is shifted rearwardly into notch16, the hee1 plate is positively retained in its depressed condition.

In driving an automobile equipped with the illustrated acceleratormechanism, the driver may keep his right foot on pedal I2 and actuatethe pedal in entirely conventional manner. Such normal operation ispossible because, when a foot is resting on the accelerator pedal, heelplate I5 is depressed to a condition actuating slide member 69 forwardlyto release pawl 53 and permit rotation of reel 33 in either direction.Since movement of the reel is unrestrained, the pedal is freely movabledownwardly and upwardly in response to foot movements.

When the operator desires to set the accelerator pedal in a particularcondition, he merely raises his heel slightly to permit upward movementof heel plate I5, and may then remove his foot completely from thepedal. The upward movement of the heel plate permits rearward movementof slide member 69 so that pawl 53 is free for actuation, and the brakespring 20 then becomes effective through the brake pedal and connectorI6 to actuate the pawl to its active Fig. 2 condition. When in its Fig.2 condition, pawl 53 retains'the reel against unwinding .rotation andthus prevents upward engine slowing movement of the accelerator pedal.The automatic control is easily releasable by either replacing the footon accelerator pedal I2 to again depress heel plate I5, or actuating thebrake pedal to release the tension on chain I6.

Figs. 5 through 10 represent a variational form of the invention inwhich the release of the accelerator control mechanism is effectedelectrically. The accelerator pedal Il of these figures includes anelongated hollow pedal body 18 movably mounted atits rear by a mountingportion 'I9 to a pair of spaced lugs 80, which project upwardly from oorboard 8|. Near its forward end, pedal body 18 is connectedto the upperend of accelerator control rod 82.

In this second form of the invention, as in the first form, theaccelerator setting mechanism within the pedal is releasable by eitherdepression of the brake pedal or depression of an accelerator carriedelement relative to the accelerator pedal body. However, the acceleratorcarried element in the second form of the invention, ratherthan beingformed as a. hee1 plate 'covering only the rear .portion of the pedal.is constructedv as an elongated cover-or plate `83v carrying an uppertread 84 and extending along the entireV upper side of the pedal body.Cover'83 may have a peripheral depending skirt 85 received about thevariousside Walls of the pedal body '|8. 4VFor effecting control of theaccelerator setting mechanism, cover 83 is mountedV to pedal body 18 forvertical swinging movement between the full line and broken linepositions of Figs.` 7 and 8 and about an axis extending along one sideofthe pedal. The cover may typically be mounted for such movement by apair of screws 86 pivotally connecting the end portions of cover skirt85 to the pedal body near one side of the pedal. Cover 83 is normallyurged upwardly to its broken line position of Figs. `'7 and 8 by coil'spring 81, which may be centered about a positioning screw 88. Y

The pedal is retained in any Yset position by a chain 89, :connected atits lower end to the iioor board and at its upper end to chain windingdrum 90 within the hollow pedal body. Drum 99 is urged by spring 9| in achain winding direction `and is adapted to be retained against chainunwinding rotation by engagement of pawl 92 with ratchet teeth 93 on thedrum. 'I'he pawlis mounted intermediate its Vends at 94 for movementbetween its active full line position of Fig. 5 and its inactive brokenline position. LSpring 95 normally urges the pawl to its active positionin which the drum, chain and pedal are retained in set positions.` l

Pawl 92 is released by energization of a solenoid or electromagnetV 96which acts on a magnetic metal element 91' carried by a rearwardlyprojecting portion 98 of the pawl to`swing `the pawl to its broken lineposition. The electromagnet may be mounted to the accelerator pedal bodyin any suitable manner as bya pair of mounting brackets 99 at itsopposite sides. The energizing circuit to magnet 96 is closed, upondepression of pedal cover 83 relative to the pedal body, by actuationvofcontrol switch |00. This switch comprises a stationary contact |0| and amovable cover actuated contact I02. Contact |02 preferably takes theform of an elongated resilient arm connected at one end |03 to theaccelerator body and having a vertically movable contact end |04positioned over stationary contact |0I. Contact |02 normally tends toreturn to an upper circuit opening condition, and is depressable to aclosed condition, upon foot actuated depression of fthe cover, by adownwardly projecting cover carried 'lug' |05. Contacts IDI and |02 areof course suitably insulated from the pedal body, as by interposition ofinlsuliting sheets |06 between thel contacts and the I have discoveredthat unless electromagnet 96 is specially constructed for the presentuse, it may have a tendency to overheat or excessively drain the batterywhen energized for any considerable length of time. To avoid theseundesired effects, 'I may employ an arrangement in which theelectromagnet is used only for initially pulling the pawl to itsreleased condition, the magnet not being required 'for maintaining thepawl in that conditionV after its initial actuation. For this purpose,the apparatus may include a latch arm |01 adapted to engage andV holdthe pawl Vin its released condition-after lactuation to that conditionby the magnet. This latch arm is mounted to a pedal body'carrie'dbracket'l at maracas M9, and is. formed tif-spring to be resilientlydeilectible upwardly Krom `normal vfull line position of Fig. to its;broken line position of that heure. Arm HH carries near its outa freeend a depending latch lus I il .enga-scatole with a rear end portion ofthe Dewi element $2. This rear portion Hl. .of the paw-l element istriangular in cross section, having an. angular face U12 acting toengage and deflect upwardly' lug |10 and latch arm im upon movement ofthe howl to its broken line position. when the navel reaches, thatbroken line. released positionieren lug H0. falls downwardly attheistraight side M3 ot p awl portion lll to retain the pawl in re.-leasedl condition independently of the magnet (see Fig. 9)..

Latch 1.0.1 adapted to; be automatically re,- leased; in response toupward` movement of: pedal cover c4 relative tothe pedal body;` Foreffecting such release, the cover carries. a; downvvardlyv projecting;element, H54; carrying; a horizontally extending arm lilli.r Whiclnisreceived. beneath an upperV horizontal portion its ofY the latch arm.,Thus; as they cover'swines. upwardly, arm- |If5 eligen-fesv portion.-lsll off the. latch. arm to swing the latch upwardly to; its.y brokenline,- released condition. ralliement M ismounted tothe cover for 90degree rotation abolita vertical axis to move arm; H5 from beneath;portion |5115. or; the latch arm in order fto permit removal of thepedal COVeflQm the bodyv Without' injruyA toi the: latch arm. Transversegroove HlY in the upper en.- larged head portion off element Hilf isaccessible to a screw driver or other tool at theoutside of the pedalfor; so.` rotating4 elementi l 1.4.

Just prior to arrival; at: patvl; 9.2 at. its broken line position; Yupon energization; of; electromagnet lla,` the energizing circuit. to'the. magnet; is.4 automaticallyv broken In; order' to open this circuitat the propere-moment; Lemployiaportioniof: the naw-l element: est a;movable contact,` which: nor mally engages as pedal..body` carriedcontact H8, and movesolih of engagement; withf thati. contact iustpriorto thefpoint. auw-limitierten. lult' moves toits activei,contbitiorrLContact; I. |;may. be car,- ried; by: a resilient; arm; H9 which:causesl the contact to -follow.4 theY motion: off. pawl; element: 92@indi maintain engagement, with that: element until the. very lastportion off its.. movement'. Contact Il 8; is; electrically connectedto.contact 0.1L ondalong with; that contact is:A insulated fromvgtheibodyone. ofthe.; previously; men:- tioned. insulators; wie

When the; apparatus, isy in the; condition of Eig,- 5., pawl 92,prevents-:the chainzunwinding rotation of drum 50; so; that-.the :pedaliissretained in a.; set'. position. If; the. operatoothen places hisfoot-gon, pedaloover 83, thescoverfis depressed relative to; thegpedalbody` in ai manner 'causing cover carried lug |05 to close switch |00.ferring to Fig. 1 0,l such` closure of."v switch |00 closes; anenergizing circuitffromcar battery; 20 to eleotmagnetf SBfth-roughswitch |00; vcontact |13,- and; pawlfelement 9.21` TheelectromagnetthnLdlinWS thief pawl t0; its. brokenzline released positionin..which-itisfretainedby; latch. |01; `the magneet` energizing; circuit:- being:broken ase the pawl .reaches its: broken linev positionv by movement,oi: the. pawl; element: aways from contact I l8r Wlih. the.. hawk in;its). releasede condition; drumfu fisfree ftoirotate gend .thespedal maybe freely; operated; without; effect by the setting meQi-lozllmcir'llleisopraitr 4dcsireseto:agafirrfset ther; acceleratori ati a.particular: position.. he slightlyvraisesE chefy right; sidef., of:foot: im a manner .permitting upward swinging movement lof cover 83while maintaining the pedal body in vthe desired position, and'arm ||5of cover carried element H4 then `acts to release latch |01 and permitreturn of the pawl to its Fig. 5

condition.

In order that the accelerator setting mechanism may be automaticallyreleased upon application of the brakes, as well asv in the abovedefined manner, I provide for energization of solenoid 96. in responseto closure of the usual brake actuated switch f2| which closes thecircuit to stop light 22 (see Fig. 10).. For this purpose, stop lightswitch. |2| is connected into a second energizing circuit leading frombattery |20 to the' magnet.

I claim.:

l. Automobile speed control mechanism comprising an accelerator pedal tobe` itnoiimtedy in an automobile for speed' controlling movement towardand away trom a floorboard, a flexible member to be fastened at itslower end against upward` movement relative to the floor boards. a reel:carried'.` by the pedal for winding. the upper end'. of the exiblemember, a: holding part movably carried' by said pedal adapted to actagainst andl prevent unwinding rotation of the reelufrom any of aplurality of positions to thereby releasably restrain engine* slowing.movement of the pedal from any of: progressive positions' in its. rangeofi movement, andi foot controlled means carried by said pedal; forreleasing' said' holding part.

2. Automobile speedj control. mechanism. comprising a hollowvacceleratorpedal t'o be mounted ini an automobile for' speedAcontrolling movement toward and away from a floorboard, a member to befastened: to theI Iloorboard: against bodily upward movement relative.thereto and extending into said hollow pedal, means in said pedalcooperating with means associated with saidzmember. to releasablyrestrain engine slowing: movement of the pedal` from'v any ofprogressive. positionsV withirrits range of movement', and: foot.controlled means carried: by said' pedal for-'releasing' saidrestraining means to permit engine slowing movement-1 of; the.A pedal.

3; For use inv association with a spring retracted brake pedal, afloorboard, and throttle mechanism` in ani automobile; anelbngated'hollow accelerator pedal .for actuatingY said throttle mechanism. andadapted toibo mountedfor speed controllingmovementtoward:and away fromthe floorboard, ailexible4 member connectable at its lower end tol theoorboard andY extending: upwardly into saio': hollow accelerator pedanareel inthe accelerator pedal for winding the flexible member, aspringrurgingfsadrreel in a winding directionsaid reel havingaJserieszoflteeth spaced thereabout, a; movable pawl actingy against saidteeth to. releasably retain the reel in any of a plurality of positionsandxtorthereby restrain upward movement of the accelerator pedal fromany oa plurality of progressive. positions ywithin its range. ofmovement', a. spring; urging said paivl-'toi releasedicondition; aexible'connector for' operatively interconnecting' said pawl and brakepedal sothatv the'pawl isV normally re-` tained in. active. reel?restraining. condition. by the i force of the brakei4 retracting aspring and'A is releasedrby'iactuationtof. thefbrakefpedal; a coverextendingtfaeross theupper Vside of said.' hollow accelerator pedaland;` hinged to'r the r pedal for depression". relative. thereto; aspring-A urglng. vsaid cover 'upwardlyfrelativefto the: acceleratorpedal.

(.9 and means operable by depression of said cover relative to the pedalto release said pawl.

4. Automobile speed 'control mechanism comprising an accelerator pedal`to be mounted in an automobile for speed controlling movement, means forreleasably restraining engine slowing movement of the accelerator pedalfrom any of progressive positions in its range of movement, a footoperated member carried by and movable relative to said pedal, andelectrical control means carried by said pedal responsive to movement ofsaid member to actuate said restraining means between active andreleased conditions, said control means including an electrical switchactuatable by said foot operated member an electric solenoid carried bysaid pedal and responsive to actuations of said switch, and a movablecontrol member operable by the solenoid.

5. Automobile speed control mechanism comprising an accelerator pedal tobe mounted in an automobile for speed controlling movement toward andaway from a floorboard, a flexible member to be fastened at its lowerend against bodily upward movement relative to the floorboard, a reelabout which an upper end of said member is wound and mounted to thepedal for rotation about an axis extending generally in said directionof the pedal movement, means mounting the reel for said rotation aboutsaid axis, means carried by the accelerator pedal operable to preventunwinding rotation of the reel from any of a plurality of positions tothereby releasably restrain engine slowing movement of the pedal, andfoot controlled means carried by said pedal for releasing saidrestraining means to permit engine slowing movement of the pedal.

6. Automobile speed control mechanism as recited in claim 5, in whichsaid pedal is elongated and hollow and contains a chamber having itssmallest dimension in said direction of pedal movement, said reel beingcontained within said chamber.

7. Automobile speed control mechanism as recited in claim 1, in whichsaid reel has a series of teeth spaced thereabout, and said holding partcomprises a movable pawl acting against said teeth.

8. Automobile speed control mechanism comprising a hollow acceleratorpedal to be mounted in an automobile for speed controlling movementtoward and away from a oorboard, a member to be fastened to thefloorboard against bodily upward movement relative thereto and extendingupwardly into said hollow pedal, means in said pedal cooperating withmeans associated with said member to releasably restrain engine slowingmovement of the pedal from any of progressive positions within its rangeof movement, an electric solenoid in said hollow pedal controlling theactuation and release of said restraining means, and a foot operatedswitch carried by said pedal and controlling said solenoid.

9. For use in association with a spring retracted brake pedal, aoorboard, and throttle mechanism in an automobile; an elongated hollowaccelerator pedal for actuating said throttle mechanism and adapted tobe mounted for speed controlling movement toward and away from theoorboard, a flexible member connectable at its lower end to the oorboardand extending upwardly into said hollow accelerator pedal, a reel in theaccelerator pedal for winding the flexible member, a spring urging saidreel in a winding direction, said reel having a Vseries of teeth spacedthereabout, a movable pawl acting against said teeth to releasablyretain the reel in any of a plurality of positions and to therebyrestrain upward movement of the accelerator pedal from any of aplurality of progressive positions within its range of movement, aspring urging said pawl to a first position, an electric solenoid insaid pedal operable to actuate the pawl against the tendency of thespring to a second position, a cover extending across the upper side ofsaid hollow accelerator pedal and hinged to the pedal for depressionrelative thereto, a spring urging said cover upwardly relative to thepedal, and a switch operable by depression of said cover relative to thepedal and controlling energization of said solenoid.

10. Speed control mechanism comprising an accelerator pedal to bemounted in a motor vehicle for speed controlling movement toward andaway from a floorboard, a flexible member to be fastened against bodilyupward movement relative to the oorboard, holding means carried byrsaidpedal for movement relative thereto and operable to cooperate with meansassociated with said ilexible member and to thereby releasably restrainengine slowing movement of the pedal from any of progressive positionsin its range of movement, and foot controlled means carried by saidpedal for actuating said holding means in response to manipulation of adrivers foot.

11. Speed control mechanism as recited in claim 10, including afastening element carried by a lower end of said flexible member andadapted to be removably attached to the floor board of a motor vehicle12. Speed control mechanism as recited in claim 10, in which said pedalis hollow and contains a rotatable reel about which an upper portion ofsaid exible member is windable, and said holding means act to restrainunwinding rotation of said reel.

13. Automobile speed control mechanism as recited in claim 2, in whichsaid foot controlled means includes a cover extending across and closingan upper side of the pedal and movable relative thereto by manipulationof e, drivers foot, and means carried by the pedal for actuating saidrestraining means in response to movement of said cover.

14. Speed control mechanism comprising an accelerator pedal to bemounted in a motor vehicle for speed controlling movement toward andaway from a oorboard, a member to be fastened against bodily upwardmovement relative to the floorboard, holding means carried by said pedalfor movement relative thereto and operable to cooperate with meansassociated with said member and to thereby releasably restrain engineslowing movement of the pedal from any of progressive positions in itsrange of movement, electrically energized means for actuating saidholding means, and foot operated means controlling actuation of saidelectrically energized means in response to manipulation of a driversfoot.

15. Speed control mechanism as recited in claim 14, in which said pedalis hollow and contains said holding means and electrically energizedmeans, said member being ilexible.

16. Speed control mechanism as recited in claim 15, including a reelcontained in said hollow pedal and rotatable relative thereto about anaxis extending generally in the direction of gemene pedal movementtoward and awayfrom the floorboard, said flexible member being wndableabout said reel, said holding means acting to restrain unwindingrotation of the reel.

17. Speed control mechanism as recited in claim 16, in which saidelectrically energized means includes an electric solenoid for actuatingthe holding means, said foot operated means including a cover for thepedal mounted for movement relative thereto, and an electric switchcontrolling said solenoid and actuated by said cover, said apparatusincluding means for connecting said electrically energized means to anelectric switch actuated by the brake of the vehicle to be responsive toactuation thereof.

JAMES T. REILLY.

References Cited inl the file of this patent STATES PATENTS- Number

